Mike Dougherty has been covering sports in the Lower Hudson Valley for the last 25 years. After writing extensively about local high school and college athletics for The Journal News and LoHud.com, he spent a decade on the Knicks beat. Mike has also filed stories from the Final Four, NBA Finals, U.S. Open, PGA Championship and World Series. He graduated from Slippery Rock University after spending two years at Kennedy Catholic in Somers and now lives in Brewster.

I do not believe Pacster is a Mahopac fan, I think Pacster is trying to stir the pot and is a Pac hater from one of the neighboring towns. Pac fans understand they have work to do to be prepared for the playoffs.

Back to back losses against two state powers I would think. Greeley has a 9 and 0 record and are rightfully ranked at the bottom because they play a creme puff schedule and have not knocked off or played any contenders yet

Pac needs to stay under the radar and there is no need to worry about where they are ranked. The team needs for to grow and prepare for the 2nd half of season and the playoffs. Pac had a few hiccups and needs to play more consistently.

When the final week of the season comes around I think the rankings will look something like below. I also believe there is going to be a surprise team at West Point this year sneaking up on everyone. I have seen 90% of what I consider to be the top 15 teams in D1 and I think barring any major injuries to key players or goalies there should not be much movement. John Jay and Greeley will be tested over the next few weeks and we will learn much during this period. Suffern is still Suffern although a step below last year, but still better than the current crop in D1 (unless forced to play at the Hommocks), Mamaroneck stills has to prove those 4 losses in a row were not who they are, White Plains after two losses, one to Mamaroneck and another to a weak in Lake Placid make you wonder, Rye, Pelham and Scarsdale are solid, Mahopac and Somers/North Salem are decent teams with good players if they put it together they can upset some of the top teams.

I don’t think crazyhorse has his saddle on straight. SNS will not be there in the end. You also have no newro. Mamaroneck should be after white plains. Scarsdale before John Jay. Mahopach can only be there if you don’t count Iona in your rankings and Greeley Will probably then move to 10 in that list (the revised one)

Forget about Greeley, they have a few games coming up that will determine exactly where they sit here, either bottom ten (or out) or top five depending on outcome, my question is why Pelham at their spot?

Not just losses in last two but also the tie and no impressive wins. If you are factoring in loss of key player than you have to do that for everyone. I do not see any objective criteria being applied here.
So called strength of schedule goes just so far in factor in ratings.

you must be know around here or new to hockey. Since you always have Pelham in your sights lets look at them. 3 losses, Suffern Wiliamsville East and Niagara Wheatfield. All three are state ranked powers Suffern and Niagara are division 1 large school and Williamsville East is a division 2 team. Pelhams wins, McQuaid Jesuit who is a division 1 state power. If you look at Greeleys nine wins none of them are against any strong eams in our section let alone the state. You need to get out more and to realize theres more to high school hockey than the house league. Last year there was one specific BIA team that piled up house league wins in route to the #1 seed only to get blasted out early on. There is no double standard, in my opinion if teams want that type of rankings here or at the state level they need to win at least a few quality games. I realize many of the BIA teams are not set up for the outside games, although John Jay has figured it out and have some. If rankings are important play at least a decent schedule instead of piling up multiple wins against the same few teams that are not the better teams in our section

Forget about Greeley, forget about anything other than the objective criteria for putting together ANY ranking order. This is not personal, my observation is based on and highlighted by several examples of this bias. The state rankings at this time of the year are very inaccurate and people have cited many examples of weaker teams beating, stronger teams who then lose to lesser teams.

Please look at what has just happened at the W-under 20 Junior championships to see many examples of that.

So stupid to not have mamk ranked higher. They just lost to an undefeated Rome team 5-4, a team that should be ranked #1 in the state, but are ranked second in the state.
I think a lot of people are underestimating them.

What does that have to do with NYS high school hockey? Apples and oranges my friend. The problem here is that you do not like the rankings, and you may be tired of hearing about Suffern or whoever and you cannot change it. Obviously you root or have a child on a team that you think should be ranked higher. You get ranked by beating good teams, the upper part of the section or the state. If your teams does not do that they cannot get the higher ranking. When your team beats a team that is in the upper end of the section I m sure they will get the recognition you so crave.

@Crazy Horse.
Glad to see some are still coming down from the New Years high.

“Suffern is still better than the current crop in D1 (unless forced to play at the Hommocks)”

must be a newcomer to these parts, Suffern has played every year at hommocks since the begining of time, not forced but sprinting to the bus to get there. I don’t think Mounties have lost there in 7 or 8 years, maybe longer. So whether Suffern stacks up to last years team, in bloggers minds, that is irrelevant. They are still, hands down, the best team in Sec 1.

Look at the scores of those games, then look at how they did in like to like games. Then look at Santana post. Rationalizing or backing up your claim/argument with other Head to Head games and then projecting futures or (Rankings) is highly inaccurate.

Mike,
I think your rankings and the accompanying note on each team are very accurate. The games around this section are going to start getting very interesting and a lot of teams will be out to prove themselves. I am looking forward to a great second half.

I posted my year end rankings and some think I am crazy? You can refute them or place your end of the year ranking predictions, I stand by my year end rankings. I did forget to comment on Greeley and to include all, I think Greeley is giving up to many goals and that will be their demise. Keep in mind, this is a blog and it is all about fun and people’s thoughts. The key is to try and be as respectful to each other when commenting.

I don’t think clarkstown is flying under the radar, They just haven’t beaten any real good teams, Lets seem them beat a Top Contender like Mamaroneck, than we can talk about Ckarkstown being in the top 5 Mix. Mamaroneck 6 – Clarkstown 2

I’m pretty sure Mamk beats the Mallrats, but I think it will be close. 5-3 with an empty netter. Combotown should be strong, but so far they have not shown it. THey’ll have their chances soon.
Smart Hockey, YOU are so obsessed with other peoples thoughts, their thought processes etc. Just let people have their opinions. Why you concern youself with their non scientific method of thought is just weird. I mean really. Why do I get the feeling you try to over control your wife, kids and everything. You are just Miserable’
Stop being upset that the BIA teams are NOT as good as the rest of the section, and until they beat a good team… they will continue to be second class citizens of the league. Just root for John Jay and stop concerning yourself with the fact that most are not impressed with them yet. Throw Greeley in the same boat.

I don’t have a problem with opinions, like a@#holes everyone has one. Some opinions are well thought out some are just hopelessly biased and wrong. Yes, I object to those, sue me.

Silly stuff like projecting my personal life and judgements about my state of mind are useless and I find a bit ironic coming from you.

Just re-read your own post and tell me honestly, judgements like “Stop being upset that the BIA teams are NOT as good as the rest of the section, and until they beat a good team… they will continue to be second class citizens of the league.” are not meant to flaunt some wild sense of superiority.

I don’t ride in the back of the bus and it’s time that folks like you stop thinking people like me should.

What about your comment? Did I provoke you? You have been baiting me for a while and then when I finally throw a ball at your head you pull the “Wow, so unnecessary. Really” like your truely offended or hurt. Come on at least be honest.

Lets have an honest discussion, Section Won. Tell me truthfully in your humble opinion how the above is not a bait. Come on now, I toned down my comment in response to you and you come back with your not baiting me.

Do I bring out the worst in people with my approach,absolutely. I am guilty of that, but please don’t tell me you did not bait me. If you look at my posts, I never make a negative comment unless provoked. Am I critical? Yes … there is a difference.

BIA- I think the best chance for a BIA team to make West Point is if in DII each of Rye, Pelham and Scarsdale end up on the same side of the bracket (very possible due to the tougher schedules that those southern Westchester teams play). Then, it would be Jay playing Greeley for the right to go to West Point. If Rye beats both Greeley and Jay, the Garnets could be 1 seed with Jay and Greeley at 2 and 3. That leaves 4 and 5 for Scarsdale and Pelham (who play in tough conference two). In that case, one semi would be Pelham /Scars winner at Rye with the other semi being Jay/Greeley at BIA.